Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin’s plan for spending an estimated $39.5 million budget surplus for fiscal 2023 includes money for schools, upgrades to Bushnell Park and the purchase of a large factory building for redevelopment, among other priorities.
Among a list of transfers being proposed, $2.1 million would be used to purchase a century-old, roughly 80,000-square-foot manufacturing building at 81 Bartholomew Ave., seen as integral to economic revitalization efforts in the Parkville neighborhood.
It is owned by Champlin Packrite, a logistics company serving aerospace, manufacturing and industrial clients. As Bronin sought authority to buy the building late last year, he said the company planned to consolidate out of the property. Hartford had earlier paid $25,000 for an option to buy the building.
Bronin’s plans for the projected budget surplus will go before the City Council’s Operations, Management, Budget & Government Accountability subcommittee during an Oct. 16 meeting.
It also includes:
- $60,000 to emergency services and telecommunications
- $5.47 million to the capital reserve, with $120,000 going to bike and pedestrian safety, $250,000 for Quirk Field lighting, $1.3 million for swimming pool repairs, $50,000 for sprinkler pads designs, $500,000 for economic development and housing-related demolition and $670,000 for upgrades to Bushnell Park.
- $500,000 for maintenance and planning associated with the city’s planned purchase of Sacred Heart Church.
- $200,000 for transition efforts to bridge Bronin’s outgoing mayoral administration and that of his successor.
- Up to $2 million for any remaining deficit in the public schools budget.
- Up to a $5.68 million injection into the public schools non-lapsing reserve, for potential deficit closure.
- Up to $250,000 for the North Hartford Ascent Pipeline initiative – providing programs and services for children.
